Our Teachers

Amanda Burton is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. There they studied piano for over 20 years, receiving a Bachelor of the Arts in Piano from The University of Tulsa studying with Dr. Roger Price. They also have had many years of flute and voice training. They have taught piano for 10 years in various studios and privately out of their house prior to opening Sound Studies.

In addition to piano and music, Amanda is a teacher certified in Contemporary Alexander Technique and specializes in injury-preventative technique for musicians. During their Alexander Technique studies they spent time working with world-class musicians, professionals, and professors at the Meadowmount School of Music in Westport, New York; Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio; the Cleveland Institute of Music in Cleveland, Ohio; and the University of Texas Arlington in Arlington, Texas. Amanda translates this experience into sound technical skills at the piano that help their students maximize their physical abilities and minimize playing-related injury both in the present and in the future. 

Amanda’s teaching is also differentiated by their extensive research on teaching young beginners using Gordon's Music Learning Theory. Amanda loves to invent games, engage with students using total physical response, and encourage students to find their own musical voice by singing and playing.

 When Amanda is not working at the studio they love to lift weights, practice yoga, bake, sew, cuddle with their cat Hex, and go on long walks with their dogs Tito and Mora. 

Tal Konderla is an East Houston native through and through. Prior to his time with Sound Studies, he spent 5 years living in Trabzon, Turkey where he taught English as a Second Language. After which he spent 4 years in business management here in Houston. He decided that education was where his passions truly lie and began teaching special education in public school before moving to teaching music full-time.

Musically, Tal is a classically trained pianist. He studied and competed formally for 12 years. His accolades include having won All-State at the Texas Federation of Music Clubs All-State Festival twice! 

He was trained by family friend: Geraldine Sharpley, may her memory be a blessing. She infused him with a love of music and piano, which he carries with him today through his teaching of the next generation of musicians. Currently, he loves to teach and play by ear and help students develop their improvisational skills. He has a passion for playing/learning pop, rock and film scores on piano. In addition to piano, Tal is a self-taught guitarist and singer. 

Tal is proudly neurodivergent and loves to teach students who are neurodiverse. He aims to be a role model for them and to show them that their differences do not inhibit their ability to become accomplished musicians.

He is a huge nerd about music, film, video games, and tv series. He especially loves Star Wars and plays too much Animal Crossing. When not teaching at the studio, Tal loves to dance, shoot archery and be around his chosen family; including his dog, Opihi. 

Born in Houston and raised in San Antonio and later Tulsa, Oklahoma, Andres Gomez was introduced to a quality education in both academics and arts from an early age. He graduated with an International Baccalaureate degree from Booker T. Washington High School and received a Dual Degree B.S./B.A in International Business and Language: Spanish and a certificate in Creative Writing from The University of Tulsa. From there he shifted his attention to receiving an international education and completed a Máster en Edición from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra and a Master in International Business Management from the Escuela de Alta Dirección (EADA) in Barcelona, Spain and spent time in the Nagoya University of Commerce and Business (NUCB) in Nagoya, Japan as a graduate exchange ambassador. Currently, he is a doctoral student with the University of Houston College of Education studying Literacy Curriculum and Instruction. 

If that sounds like a lot of school, that’s because it definitely is! Andres has a love for learning!

Andres began his music experience at a young age studying Yamaha music and eventually piano lessons. Growing up, his dad loved jazz and had the car filled with Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, and other jazz legends. His mom loved classic rock and road trips were spent with The Eagles, Cars, Queen and Electric Light Orchestra. Piano lessons continued and were joined by voice, then percussion. Percussion was the true spark from there. Drum-line, orchestra, jazz band, and ensembles led him through a wide range of instruments and styles. He carries this love for beats and rhythm everywhere he goes; there is always something to tap along with after all.

Nowadays, Andres enjoys sharing his love of studying all subjects in the humanities. He works everyday to make lessons engaging and meet students where they are in their interests and abilities. He believes the love of learning is contagious!